Large scale modeling of the transport, chemical transformation and mass budget of the sulfur emitted during the April 2007 eruption of Piton de la Fournaise

During the April 2007 eruption of Piton de la Fournaise, one of the largest eruptions recorded on Réunion Island in the last century, a total of 230 kilotons of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) were emitted, with 60 kilotons transforming into sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). Using satellite observations and mesoscale chemical modeling (MesoNH-C), researchers estimated that 27 kilotons of SO₂ and 21 kilotons of H₂SO₄ were deposited at the surface through dry deposition. The study also reconstructed the temporal evolution of SO₂ emissions, identifying a peak degassing rate of 1800 kg/s on April 6. This top-down approach provides valuable data for local studies and enhances understanding of volcanic sulfur cycling in atmospheric models.

Tulet, P., & Villeneuve, N. (2011). Large scale modeling of the transport, chemical transformation and mass budget of the sulfur emitted during the April 2007 eruption of Piton de la Fournaise. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 11(9), 4533–4546. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-11-4533-2011